Co-prod’n deal with U.K. is signed

World Brief

The U.K. and India have signed a statement of intent to clinch within 18 months a co-production agreement that would enable filmmakers to pool their resources for film production.

Deal was inked in New Delhi on Wednesday by visiting British Culture Minister Tessa Jowell and Indian Broadcasting and Culture Minister Jaipal Reddy.

“It makes sense for our industries to join forces so that we can raise our game even further,” Jowell said.

Jowell has been a proponent of a closer partnership between the British and Indian film industries for some time and has worked closely with the EM Media regional screen agency to promote her constituency city of Leicester as a location for Bollywood filming outside India.

The U.K. already has co-production agreements with Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, New Zealand and Norway and is negotiating with India, China, Morocco, Jamaica and South Africa.